Electronic apparatus, remote control apparatus, control method thereof, and electronic system

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes: a storage configured to store control code sets corresponding to each of a display apparatus and one or more external electronic apparatuses providing contents to the display apparatus; a communicator comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with the display apparatus and a remote control apparatus; and a processor configured to determine a source apparatus, providing a content that is currently displayed on the display apparatus, of the display apparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatuses, and controlling the communication circuitry of the communicator to transmit a control code set corresponding to the determined source apparatus to the remote control apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/337,116, filed Oct. 28, 2016, which claims priority to KR10-2015-0155547, filed Nov. 6, 2015, the entire contents of each ofwhich are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND Field

Apparatuses and methods of the disclosure relate generally to anelectronic apparatus, a remote control apparatus, a control methodthereof, and an electronic system, and for example, to an electronicapparatus, a remote control apparatus, a control method thereof, and anelectronic system capable of controlling a plurality of apparatuses.

Description of Related Art

In accordance with the development of electronic technology, a method ofconnecting various external electronic apparatus providing contents,such as a set-top box, a digital versatile disk (DVD), an audioapparatus, and the like, to a display apparatus has been developed.Remote controllers provided to the respective external electronicapparatuses are generally used in order to control the externalelectronic apparatuses. However, when the number of external electronicapparatuses is increased, the number of remote controllers is alsoincreased.

Therefore, a universal remote controller that may control a plurality ofapparatuses has been developed. However, in order to control electronicapparatuses that are not registered in the universal remote controller,a process of setting control code sets of the electronic apparatuses isrequired. That is, a user must input the control code sets one by one inorder to use the universal remote controller.

In addition, even in the case of using the universal remote controllerto which the control code sets are input, an apparatus to be controlledof the plurality of apparatuses should be selected, which is atroublesome process. In the case of using a universal remote controllerincluding a significant number of buttons in order to avoid thistroublesome process, a manufacturing cost is increased, and it isdifficult for the user to manipulate the buttons.

Therefore, the necessity for a method for decreasing a manufacturingcost of the universal remote controller by providing an appropriatenumber of buttons in the universal remote controller and moreconveniently providing setting and control function of the universalremote controller has increased.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present disclosure address the abovedisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above.

The present disclosure provides an electronic apparatus, a remotecontrol apparatus, a control method thereof, and an electronic systemcapable of automatically determining an apparatus from among a pluralityof apparatuses to be controlled.

According to an example aspect of the present disclosure, an electronicapparatus includes: a storage storing control code sets corresponding toeach of a display apparatus and one or more external electronicapparatuses providing contents to the display apparatus; a communicatorcomprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with thedisplay apparatus and a remote control apparatus; and a processorconfigured to determine a source apparatus, providing content that iscurrently displayed on the display apparatus, of the display apparatusand the one or more external electronic apparatuses, and to control thecommunication circuitry to transmit a control code set corresponding tothe determined source apparatus to the remote control apparatus.

The processor may receive information on the apparatus providing thecontent that is currently displayed on the display apparatus from thedisplay apparatus, and determine the source apparatus based on thereceived information.

The communication circuitry of the communicator may performcommunication with the one or more external electronic apparatuses, andthe processor may transmit a content provided from any one of the one ormore external electronic apparatuses to the display apparatus anddetermine that the external electronic apparatus providing the contentis the source apparatus.

When the source apparatus providing the content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus is changed, the processor maytransmit a control code set corresponding to the changed sourceapparatus to the remote control apparatus.

When the source apparatus code is determined, the processor may receivethe control code set corresponding to the determined source apparatusfrom an external server and store the received control code set in thestorage.

According to another example aspect of the present disclosure, a remotecontrol apparatus includes: a user interface including a plurality ofbuttons; a storage storing control code sets corresponding to each of adisplay apparatus and one or more external electronic apparatusesproviding contents to the display apparatus therein; a communicatorcomprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with a mainapparatus, communicating with the display apparatus, of the one or moreexternal electronic apparatuses; and a processor configured toautomatically detect a control code set corresponding to a sourceapparatus providing a content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus and to map the detected control code set to the plurality ofbuttons, when information on the source apparatus of the displayapparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatuses isreceived from the main apparatus.

In the example in which the control code set corresponding to the sourceapparatus is not stored in the storage, the processor may transmit asignal requesting the main apparatus to transmit the control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus to the main apparatus, map acontrol code set received from the main apparatus to the plurality ofbuttons, and store the control code set in the storage.

The remote control apparatus may include a first button configured toreceive a user command for mapping a control code set corresponding tothe main apparatus to the plurality of buttons.

The remote control apparatus may further include a second buttonconfigured to receive a user command for returning to a button mappingstate immediately before the first button is pressing-manipulated, afterthe first button is pressing-manipulated.

According to still another example aspect of the present disclosure, anelectronic system includes: an electronic apparatus configured to storecontrol code sets corresponding to each of a display apparatus and oneor more external electronic apparatuses providing contents to thedisplay apparatus therein, to determine a source apparatus providing acontent that is currently displayed on the display apparatus, and totransmit a control code set corresponding to the determined sourceapparatus to a remote control apparatus; and the remote controlapparatus including a plurality of buttons, and configured toautomatically map the control code set to the plurality of buttons whenthe control code set is received from the electronic apparatus.

According to yet another example aspect of the present disclosure, amethod of controlling an electronic apparatus storing control code setscorresponding to each of a display apparatus and one or more externalelectronic apparatuses providing contents to the display apparatusincludes: determining a source apparatus, providing a content that iscurrently displayed on the display apparatus, of the display apparatusand the one or more external electronic apparatus; and transmitting acontrol code set corresponding to the determined source apparatus to aremote control apparatus.

In the determining of the source apparatus, information on the apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus may be received from the display apparatus, and the sourceapparatus may be determined on the basis of the received information.

The determining of the source apparatus may include: transmitting acontent provided from any one of the one or more external electronicapparatuses to the display apparatus; and determining that the externalelectronic apparatus providing the content is the source apparatus.

In the transmitting of the control code set, when the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus is changed, a control code set corresponding to the changedsource apparatus may be transmitted to the remote control apparatus.

The method of controlling an electronic apparatus may further includereceiving the control code set corresponding to the determined sourceapparatus from an external server and storing the received control codeset in the storage, when the source apparatus is determined.

According to yet another example aspect of the present disclosure, amethod of controlling a remote control apparatus including a pluralityof buttons and storing control code sets corresponding to each of adisplay apparatus and one or more external electronic apparatusesproviding contents to the display apparatus therein includes: receivinginformation on a source apparatus, providing a content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus, of the display apparatus and the oneor more external electronic apparatuses, from a main apparatus,communicating with the display apparatus, of the one or more externalelectronic apparatuses; automatically detecting a control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus; and mapping the detected controlcode set to the plurality of buttons.

The method of controlling a remote control apparatus may further includetransmitting a signal requesting a main apparatus to transmit thecontrol code set corresponding to the source apparatus in the example inwhich the control code set corresponding to the source apparatus is notstored in a storage, wherein in the mapping of the detected control codeset, a control code set received from the main apparatus is mapped tothe plurality of buttons.

The method of controlling a remote control apparatus may furtherinclude: receiving a pressing manipulation input of a first button; andmapping a control code set corresponding to the main apparatus to theplurality of buttons.

The method of controlling a remote control apparatus may furtherinclude: receiving a pressing manipulation input of a second buttonafter the first button is pressing-manipulated; and returning to abutton mapping state immediately before the first button ispressing-manipulated.

According to the various example embodiments of the present disclosureas described above, an apparatus to be controlled of the plurality ofapparatuses may be automatically determined by the electronic apparatus,and the determined apparatus may be controlled by the remote controlapparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will be moreapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals referto like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example electronic system accordingto an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating example components of an exampleelectronic apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating example components of theelectronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example components of a remotecontrol apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating example components of an electronicsystem according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating example components of an electronicsystem according to another example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example operation in thecase of inputting a preset user command using a remote controlapparatus;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a case in whichthe number of contents that are currently displayed is plural;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of determining asource apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of a remotecontrol apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9A is a sequence diagram illustrating example operations of anelectronic system according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9B is a sequence diagram illustrating example operations of anelectronic system according to another example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example control method of anelectronic apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example control method of aremote control apparatus according to an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be diverselymodified. Accordingly, various example embodiments are illustrated inthe drawings and are described in greater detail in the detaileddescription. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosureis not limited to any particular example embodiment, but includes allmodifications, equivalents, and substitutions without departing from thescope and spirit of the present disclosure. Also, well-known functionsor constructions may not be described in detail if they would obscurethe disclosure with unnecessary detail.

Hereinafter, various example embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to beunderstood that contents mentioned in the present disclosure are not tolimit the scope of the present disclosure to any particular exampleembodiments, but includes various modifications, equivalents, and/oralternatives of example embodiments of the present disclosure.Throughout the accompanying drawings, similar components may be denotedusing like or similar reference numerals.

In addition, expressions “first”, “second”, and the like, used in thepresent disclosure may be used in order to distinguish variouscomponents from each other regardless of a sequence or importance of therespective components. Therefore, a sequence or importance ofcorresponding components is not limited by these expressions. Forexample, a first component may be named a second component and thesecond component may also be similarly named the first component,without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, when it is mentioned that any component (for example, afirst component) is (operatively or communicatively) coupled orconnected to another component (for example, a second component), it isto be understood that any component is directly coupled to anothercomponent or is indirectly coupled to another component through theother component (for example, a third component). On the other hand,when it is mentioned that any component (for example, a first component)is “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another component (forexample, a second component), it is to be understood that the othercomponent (for example, a third component) is not present between anycomponent and another component.

Terms used in the present disclosure will be used in order to describevarious example embodiments rather than restricting the scope of otherexample embodiments. In addition, in the present disclosure, singularforms may be used for convenience of explanation. However, thesesingular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise. Further, terms used in the description mayhave the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled inthe art. Terms defined in a general dictionary among terms used in thepresent disclosure may be interpreted as having meanings that are thesame as or similar to meanings within a context of the related art, andare not interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unlessclearly defined in the present disclosure. In some cases, terms may notbe interpreted to exclude example embodiments of the present disclosureeven though they are defined in the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, various example embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described in greater detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example electronic system 1000according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic system 1000 includes an electronicapparatus 100, a remote control apparatus 200, a display apparatus 10,and external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2.

The electronic apparatus 100 may be implemented by various types ofapparatuses providing a content to the display apparatus 10 such as, forexample, and without limitation, a set-top box, or the like. Forexample, the electronic apparatus 100 may be implemented by a mountingtype apparatus.

The electronic apparatus 100 may perform communication with the displayapparatus 10. The electronic apparatus 100 may provide a content to thedisplay apparatus 10. For example, the electronic apparatus 100 mayrequest the display apparatus 10 to transmit information on a sourceapparatus providing a content, and receive the information on the sourceapparatus from the display apparatus 10.

The electronic apparatus 100 may perform communication with the remotecontrol apparatus 200. The electronic apparatus 100 may transmitinformation on the source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200.The electronic apparatus 100 may also receive a control command forcontrolling the electronic apparatus 100 from the remote controlapparatus 200.

In addition, the electronic apparatus 100 may also perform communicationwith the external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2.

The electronic apparatus 100 may determine the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus 10. For example, the electronic apparatus 100 may determinethat any one of the external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 is thesource apparatus. The electronic apparatus 100 may also determine thatone of the electronic apparatus 100 and the display apparatus 10 is thesource apparatus.

In the example in which the content provided to the display apparatus 10by the electronic apparatus 100 is displayed, the electronic apparatus100 may determine that the electronic apparatus 100 is the sourceapparatus. In the example in which the display apparatus 10 display acontent through a broadcasting base station, or the like, the electronicapparatus 100 may determine that the display apparatus 10 is the sourceapparatus.

The electronic apparatus 100 may transmit a control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus to the remote control apparatus200. The control code set may be stored in the electronic apparatus 100or be received from an external server to the electronic apparatus 100.

The remote control apparatus 200 may be implemented by various types ofapparatuses that may transmit control commands. For example, the remotecontrol apparatus 200 may be a dedicated remote controller of theelectronic apparatus 100, a universal remote controller, a smart phone,or the like, but is not limited thereto.

For example, the remote control apparatus 200 may be an apparatus thatmay control various kinds of apparatuses. In addition, the remotecontrol apparatus 200 may be an apparatus that may interwork with theelectronic apparatus 100.

The remote control apparatus 200 may wirelessly transmit the controlcommands to the electronic apparatus 100, the display apparatus 10, andthe external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2. The remote controlapparatus 200 may generate and transmit control commands to correspondto apparatuses to be controlled.

The remote control apparatus 200 may include, for example, and withoutlimitation, a direction key button, a touch pad, and the like. Theremote control apparatus 200 may generate various control commands usingthe direction key button, the touch pad, and other buttons.

The remote control apparatus 200 may receive the information on thesource apparatus providing the content that is currently displayed onthe display apparatus 10 from the electronic apparatus 100. For example,the remote control apparatus 200 may receive the control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus.

The remote control apparatus 200 may store control code setscorresponding to each of the display apparatus 10 and the externalelectronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 providing contents to the displayapparatus 10 therein.

In this example, the remote control apparatus 200 may also receive onlythe information on the source apparatus providing the content that iscurrently displayed on the display apparatus 10 from the electronicapparatus 100. In addition, the remote control apparatus 200 mayautomatically detect the control code set corresponding to the sourceapparatus. The information on the source apparatus may include a productname, a serial number, a manufacturer, and the like.

Also in the example in which the remote control apparatus 200 stores thecontrol code sets therein, the remote control apparatus 200 may alsoreceive the control code set corresponding to the source apparatus fromthe electronic apparatus 100. In this example, the remote controlapparatus 200 may use the control code set received from the electronicapparatus 100.

The remote control apparatus 200 may map the control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus to a plurality of buttons providedby the remote control apparatus. When a user manipulates at least one ofthe plurality of buttons, the remote control apparatus 200 may transmita control command for controlling the source apparatus based on themapped control code set.

The display apparatus 10 may be implemented by various types ofapparatuses having a display function, such as, for example, and withoutlimitation, a monitor, a television (TV), a kiosk, and the like. Forexample, the display apparatus 10 may be implemented by a mounting typeapparatus.

The display apparatus 10 may perform communication with the electronicapparatus 100, the external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2, theremote control apparatus 200, and the like. The display apparatus 10 mayreceive a signal requesting the display apparatus 10 to transmit theinformation on the source apparatus providing the content from theelectronic apparatus 100, and transmit the corresponding information tothe electronic apparatus 100.

The display apparatus 10 may receive the control command from the remotecontrol apparatus 200, and perform an operation corresponding to thecontrol command.

The display apparatus 10 may directly receive contents from abroadcasting base station, and the like, and display the receivedcontents. The display apparatus 10 may also receive contents from atleast one of the electronic apparatus 100 and the external electronicapparatuses 20-1 and 20-2. The display apparatus 10 may display at leastone of the received contents.

The display apparatus 10 may determine the source apparatus providingthe content that is currently displayed. For example, the displayapparatus 10 may receive contents from each of a digital versatile disk(DVD) apparatus and a desktop computer. The display apparatus 10 maydisplay one of a plurality of contents under a control of the user, anddetermine the source apparatus providing the displayed content.

The external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 may be broadcastingreceiving apparatuses such as set-top boxes, or the like. The externalelectronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 may be DVD players, or the like,and are not limited as long as they may provide contents to the displayapparatus 10.

The external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 may be directlyconnected to the display apparatus 10 to provide the contents to thedisplay apparatus 10. The external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2may also provide the contents to the display apparatus 10 through theelectronic apparatus 100.

In this example, the electronic apparatus 100 may provide only a contentthat will be displayed on the display apparatus 10 to the displayapparatus 10. Therefore, the electronic apparatus 100 may directlydetermine the source apparatus providing the content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus 10.

The electronic apparatus 100 may transmit a plurality of contentsprovided from the external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 to thedisplay apparatus 10. In addition, the display apparatus 10 may alsodisplay only any one of the plurality of contents. In this example, theelectronic apparatus 100 requests the display apparatus 10 to transmitinformation on a source apparatus providing the content that iscurrently displayed.

Through the method as described above, the electronic apparatus 100determines the source apparatus providing the content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus 10, and transmits the information onthe source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200. The remotecontrol apparatus 200 may receive the information on the sourceapparatus to control the source apparatus without performing amanipulation selecting any one of a plurality of apparatuses.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating example components of anelectronic apparatus 100 according to an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the electronic apparatus 100 includes astorage 110, a communicator (e.g., including communication circuitry)120, and a processor (e.g., including processing circuitry) 130.

The storage 110 stores various data such as an operating system (O/S)software module for driving the electronic apparatus 100, and the like,therein.

In addition, the storage 110 stores control code sets corresponding toeach of the display apparatus and one or more external electronicapparatuses providing a content to the display apparatus therein. Forexample, the control code set may refer, for example, to a set ofinformation on each button of the remote control apparatus 200 andsignal information (for example, waveforms) generated when each buttonis selected.

The communicator 120 uses various communication circuitry to performcommunication with the display apparatus and the remote controlapparatus. In addition, the communicator 120 may also performcommunication with the one or more external electronic apparatuses toreceive a content.

For example, the communicator 120 may use various communicationcircuitry to transmit the control code set corresponding to the sourceapparatus providing the content that is currently displayed on thedisplay apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200.

For example, the communication circuitry of the communicator 120 mayperform communication with the display apparatus, the one or moreexternal electronic apparatuses, and the remote control apparatus 200through various communication schemes such as a Bluetooth (BT) scheme, aBluetooth low energy (BLE) scheme, a wireless fidelity (WIFI) scheme, aZigbee scheme, an infrared (IR) scheme, a serial interface scheme, auniversal serial bus (USB) scheme, a near field communication (NFC)scheme, and the like. Among them, an NFC chip may refer, for example, toa chip including circuitry operated in the NFC scheme using a band of13.56 MHz among various radio frequency identification (RFID) frequencybands such as 135 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 433 MHz, 860 to 960 MHz, 2.45 GHz, andthe like. In an example of using a WiFi chip or a Bluetooth chip,various connection information such as a service set identifier (SSID),a session key, and the like, is first transmitted and received,communication is connected using the connection information, and variousinformation may then be transmitted and received. A wirelesscommunication chip may refer, for example, to a chip including circuitryperforming communication depending on various communication protocolssuch as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),Zigbee, 3rd generation (3G), 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP),long term evolution (LTE), and the like.

Although an example in which the communicator 120 is implemented as onecomponent has been described hereinabove, a first communicator (notillustrated) including circuitry for performing communication with thedisplay apparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatusesand a second communicator (not illustrated) including circuitry forperforming communication with the remote control apparatus 200 may alsobe separately implemented in other example embodiments. In addition,communication schemes of the first communicator and the secondcommunicator may be the same as or similar to each other or be differentfrom each other.

The processor 130 generally controls an operation of the electronicapparatus 100.

The processor 130 may decide whether or not a content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus is present. When it is decided thatthe content that is currently displayed on the display apparatus is notpresent, the processor 130 may transmit information on the electronicapparatus 100 to the remote control apparatus 200. In this example, theremote control apparatus 200 controls the electronic apparatus 100.

When it is decided that the content that is currently displayed on thedisplay apparatus is present, the processor 130 may determine a sourceapparatus, providing the content that is currently displayed on thedisplay apparatus, of the display apparatus and the one or more externalelectronic apparatuses. For example, the processor 130 may determine thesource apparatus by receiving information on the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus from the display apparatus.

In an example in which the electronic apparatus 100 performscommunication with the one or more external electronic apparatuses, theprocessor 130 may transmit a content provided from any one of the one ormore external electronic apparatuses to the display apparatus, and maydetermine that the external electronic apparatus providing the contentis a source apparatus.

In an example in which the electronic apparatus 100 transmits aplurality of contents provided from each of the one or more externalelectronic apparatuses to the display apparatus, the processor 130 mayrequest the display apparatus to transmit information on the sourceapparatus providing the content that is currently displayed.

The processor 130 may receive the information on the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus from the display apparatus, and determine the source apparatuson the basis of the received information.

The processor 130 may transmit a control code set corresponding to thedetermined source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200. Theprocessor 130 may also transmit only information on the determinedsource apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200.

The electronic apparatus 100 may store information on whether or not theremote control apparatus 200 stores a plurality of control code setstherein, and the processor 130 may determine information that will betransmitted to the remote control apparatus 200 based on the storedinformation.

For example, in the example in which the remote control apparatus 200stores the plurality of control code sets therein, the processor 130 maytransmit only the information on the determined source apparatus to theremote control apparatus 200. In the example in which the remote controlapparatus 200 does not store the plurality of control code sets therein,the processor 130 may transmit the control code set corresponding to thedetermined source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200.

When the source apparatus providing the content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus is changed, the processor 130 maytransmit a control code set corresponding to the changed sourceapparatus to the remote control apparatus 200. For example, when a DVDcontent provided from the DVD apparatus to the display apparatus anddisplayed on the display apparatus is changed to a broadcasting contentprovided from the set-top box to the display apparatus, the processor130 may transmit a control code set corresponding to the set-top box tothe remote control apparatus. The processor 130 may also transmitinformation on the set-top box to the remote control apparatus.

However, it will be understood that the present disclosure is notlimited thereto, and the processor 130 may also determine the sourceapparatus providing the content that is currently displayed on thedisplay apparatus at a preset time interval, and transmit information onthe determined source apparatus or a control code set corresponding tothe determined source apparatus to the remote control apparatus.

In an example in which a specific event occurs, the processor 130 mayalso perform an operation of determining the source apparatus providingthe content that is currently displayed on the display apparatus. Forexample, in the example in which a control command for any apparatus istransmitted from the remote control apparatus 200, the processor 130 mayalso perform an operation of sensing the control command and determiningthe source apparatus.

The processor 130 may receive the control code sets corresponding toeach of the display apparatus and the one or more external electronicapparatuses from an external server, and store the received control codesets in the storage 110. The processor 130 may also receive the controlcode sets corresponding to each of the display apparatus and the one ormore external electronic apparatuses from each of the display apparatusand the one or more external electronic apparatuses, and store thereceived control code sets in the storage 110.

When the source apparatus is determined, the processor 130 may receive acontrol code set corresponding to the determined source apparatus fromthe external server and store the received control code set in thestorage 110. The processor 130 may also receive a control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus from the external server at apreset time interval. In the example in which the new apparatus is addedto the same network, the processor 130 may also receive a control codeset corresponding to a new apparatus from the external server.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating example components of theelectronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2A. A detailed description forcomponents overlapped with components illustrated in FIG. 2A amongcomponents illustrated in FIG. 2B will be omitted.

The processor 130 includes a random access memory (RAM) 131, a read onlymemory (ROM) 132, a main central processing unit (CPU) 133, first ton-th interfaces 134-1 to 134-n, and a bus 135.

The RAM 131, the ROM 132, the main CPU 133, the first to n-th interfaces134-1 to 134-n, and the like, may be connected to one another throughthe bus 135.

The first to n-th interfaces 134-1 to 134-n are connected to the variouscomponents described above. One of the interfaces may also be a networkinterface connected to the display apparatus or the one or more externalelectronic apparatuses through a network.

The main CPU 133 accesses the storage 110 to perform booting using anO/S stored in the storage 110. In addition, the main CPU 110 performsvarious operations using various programs, contents, data, and the like,stored in the storage 160.

An instruction set for booting a system, or the like, is stored in theROM 132. When a turn-on command is input to supply power to the main CPU133, the main CPU 133 may copy the O/S stored in the storage 110 to theRAM 132 depending on an instruction stored in the ROM 131, and executethe O/S to boot the system. When the booting is completed, the main CPU133 copies various programs stored in the storage 110 to the RAM 131,and executes the programs copied to the RAM 131 to perform variousoperations.

As described above, the storage 110 stores various data such as the O/Ssoftware module for driving the electronic apparatus 100 and variouscontents therein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example components of a remotecontrol apparatus 200 according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the remote control apparatus 200 includes auser interface 210, a storage 220, a communicator (e.g., includingcommunication circuitry) 230, and a processor 240.

The user interface 210 may include various interface circuitry, such as,for example, and without limitation, a plurality of buttons, and receivevarious user interactions.

For example, the user interface 210 may include circuitry such as aplurality of physical buttons or a plurality of soft buttons. Inaddition, the user interface 210 may include circuitry including ajoystick, a touch pad, or the like.

In the example in which the user interface 210 is implemented by theplurality of soft buttons, the remote control apparatus 200 may beimplemented by a touch-based terminal, and the user interface 210 mayalso be implemented in a touch screen form forming a layer structuretogether with a touch pad. In addition, the user interface 210 may beused as a display.

The storage 220 stores various data such as an O/S software module fordriving the remote control apparatus 200, and the like, therein.

The storage 220 stores control code sets corresponding to each of thedisplay apparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatusesproviding the content to the display apparatus therein. For example, thestorage 220 stores a control code set corresponding to a main apparatus,communicating with the display apparatus, of the one or more externalelectronic apparatuses, therein.

The storage 220 may also store only any one of the plurality of controlcode sets described above therein. For example, the storage 220 may alsostore only a control code set corresponding to a source apparatusproviding a content that is currently displayed on the display apparatustherein.

The storage 220 may store the control code set corresponding to thesource apparatus and a control code set corresponding to a presetelectronic apparatus therein. The preset electronic apparatus will bedescribed below.

The communicator 230 may include various communication circuitry thatperforms communication with the display apparatus, the electronicapparatus 100, and the one or more external electronic apparatuses.

For example, the communicator 230 may include circuitry configured toperform communication with the electronic apparatus 100 to receiveinformation on the source apparatus currently providing the content tothe display apparatus. The communication circuitry of the communicator230 may transmit a control command generated based on the information onthe source apparatus to the source apparatus.

For example, the communication circuitry of the communicator 230 mayperform communication with the display apparatus, the electronicapparatus 100, and the one or more external electronic apparatusesthrough various communication schemes such as a Bluetooth (BT) scheme, aBluetooth low energy (BLE) scheme, a wireless fidelity (WIFI) scheme, aZigbee scheme, an infrared (IR) scheme, a serial interface scheme, auniversal serial bus (USB) scheme, a near field communication (NFC)scheme, and the like.

Although an example in which the communicator 230 is one component hasbeen described hereinabove, a first communicator (not illustrated)performing communication with the electronic apparatus 100 and a secondcommunicator (not illustrated) performing communication with the displayapparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatuses may alsobe separately implemented in other example embodiments. In addition,communication schemes of the first communicator and the secondcommunicator may be the same as or similar to each other or be differentfrom each other.

The processor 240 generally controls an operation of the remote controlapparatus 200.

When the information on the source apparatus, providing the content thatis currently displayed on the display apparatus, of the displayapparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatuses isreceived from the main apparatus, the processor 240 may automaticallydetect a control code set corresponding to the source apparatus. In thisexample, the processor 240 may detect the control code set,corresponding to the source apparatus, of the control code sets storedin the storage 220. The information on the source apparatus may include,for example, a product name, a serial number, a manufacturer, and thelike, of the source apparatus. For example, the main apparatus may be anapparatus, performing communication with the display apparatus anddirectly performing communication with the remote control apparatus 200,of the one or more external electronic apparatuses.

The processor 240 may also receive the control code set corresponding tothe source apparatus providing the content that is currently displayedon the display apparatus from the main apparatus. In this case, theprocessor 240 may not perform an operation of detecting the control codeset.

The processor 240 may map the detected control code set to a pluralityof buttons. For example, in the example in which a control code setcorresponding to the DVD apparatus is mapped to the plurality ofbuttons, the remote control apparatus 200 may control the DVD apparatus.

The processor 240 may also directly control one of the display apparatusand the one or more external electronic apparatuses depending on a kindof control code sets.

In the example in which the control code set corresponding to the sourceapparatus is not stored in the storage 220, the processor 240 maytransmit a signal requesting the main apparatus to transmit the controlcode set corresponding to the source apparatus to the main apparatus,map the control code set received from the main apparatus to theplurality of buttons, and store the control code set in the storage 220.

The remote control apparatus 200 may include a first button receiving auser command for mapping the control code set corresponding to the mainapparatus to the plurality of buttons.

For example, when a pressing manipulation of the first button is inputin a state in which the control code set corresponding to the DVDapparatus is mapped to the plurality of buttons, the processor 240 maymap the control code set corresponding to the main apparatus to theplurality of buttons. That is, the user may press the first button tochange the control code set of the remote control apparatus 200 so as tocontrol the main apparatus.

The control code set corresponding to the main apparatus may be storedin the storage 220, and may be stored separately from control code setscorresponding to other apparatuses.

The control code set corresponding to the main apparatus may also bereceived from the main apparatus. For example, when the pressingmanipulation of the first button is input, the processor 240 maytransmit a signal requesting the main apparatus to transmit the controlcode set corresponding to the main apparatus to the main apparatus. Theremote control apparatus 200 may receive the control code setcorresponding to the main apparatus from the main apparatus, and map thereceived control code set to the plurality of buttons.

The remote control apparatus 200 may further include a second buttonreceiving a user command for returning to a button mapping stateimmediately before the first button is pressing-manipulated, after thefirst button is pressing-manipulated.

When a pressing manipulation of the second button is input in a state inwhich the control code set corresponding to the main apparatus is mappedto the plurality of buttons as in the example described above, theprocessor 240 may again map the control code set corresponding to theDVD apparatus to the plurality of buttons.

A control code set of the main apparatus immediately before being mappedmay be stored in the storage 220.

The control code set of the main apparatus immediately before beingmapped may also be received from the main apparatus. For example, whenthe pressing manipulation of the second button is input, the processor240 may transmit a signal requesting the main apparatus to transmit thecontrol code set of the main apparatus immediately before being mappedto the main apparatus. The remote control apparatus 200 may receive thecontrol code set of the main apparatus immediately before being mappedfrom the main apparatus, and map the received control code set to theplurality of buttons.

Although an example in which the first button and the second button aredifferent buttons has been described hereinabove, the first button andthe second button may be the same button.

In addition, although an example in which the main apparatus iscontrolled through the input of the first button has been described, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the displayapparatus or other electronic apparatuses may also be controlled throughthe input of the first button. Mapping between the input of the firstbutton and an apparatus to be controlled may also be set by the user.

The processor 240 may receive the control code sets corresponding toeach of the display apparatus and the one or more external electronicapparatuses from the electronic apparatus 100, and store the receivedcontrol code sets in the storage 220. The processor 240 may also receivecontrol code sets corresponding to a plurality of apparatuses from theexternal server, and store the received control code sets in the storage220.

The processor 240 may generate a control command for controlling thesource apparatus depending on a user command, and transmit the generatedcontrol command.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating example components of an electronicsystem according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the display apparatus 10 may be connected tothe one or more external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 as well asthe electronic apparatus 100.

The display apparatus 10 may receive contents from the electronicapparatus 100 and the one or more external electronic apparatuses 20-1and 20-2. For example, even in the example in which all of a pluralityof apparatuses are operated to provide the respective contents to thedisplay apparatus 10, the display apparatus 10 may display only any oneof the plurality of contents that are received.

The electronic apparatus 100 may receive the information on the sourceapparatus providing the content that is currently displayed from thedisplay apparatus 10. The electronic apparatus 100 may request thedisplay apparatus 10 to transmit the information on the sourceapparatus, and receive the information on the source apparatus from thedisplay apparatus 10. The display apparatus 10 may also transmit theinformation on the source apparatus to the electronic apparatus 100 at apreset time interval.

The electronic apparatus 100 may transmit the information on the sourceapparatus or the control code set for the source apparatus to the remotecontrol apparatus 200, and the remote control apparatus 200 may map thecontrol code set corresponding to the source apparatus to a plurality ofbuttons to control the source apparatus.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating example components of an exampleelectronic system according to another example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the display apparatus 10 may be connected tothe electronic apparatus 100. The electronic apparatus 100 may beconnected to the one or more external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and20-2.

The electronic apparatus 100 may receive contents from the one or moreexternal electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2. For example, even in theexample in which both of the one or more external electronic apparatuses20-1 and 20-2 are operated to provide the respective contents to theelectronic apparatus 100, the electronic apparatus 100 may provide onlyany one of the plurality of contents that are received to the displayapparatus 10.

In this example, the electronic apparatus 100 may also transmitinformation on a source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200without receiving the information on the source apparatus from thedisplay apparatus 10. The electronic apparatus 100 may determine thesource apparatus by deciding, for example, at which input port acontent, provided to the display apparatus 10 through an output port, ofa plurality of contents input to input ports is received.

The electronic apparatus 100 may also provide all of the plurality ofcontents that are received to the display apparatus 10. In this example,the electronic apparatus 100 may receive the information on the sourceapparatus from the display apparatus 10 and transmit the information onthe source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200, as illustratedin FIG. 4A.

The electronic apparatus 100 may also provide a content directlyreceived from the external server, or the like, to the display apparatus10.

Hereinabove, an example in which the remote control apparatus 200directly controls the source apparatus has been described. For example,the remote control apparatus 200 may include an infrared (IR)transmitter, and may transmit an infrared signal to the source apparatusto directly control the source apparatus.

However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the remotecontrol apparatus 200 may also transmit a control command to theelectronic apparatus 100 in the case in which the electronic system isconfigured as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The electronic apparatus 100 mayalso transmit the received control command to the source apparatus tocontrol the source apparatus.

Although only two external electronic apparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 areillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. For example, external electronic apparatuses may also beconnected to the display apparatus 10 by the number of externalelectronic apparatuses that may be connected to the display apparatus 10in terms of hardware. External electronic apparatuses may also beconnected to the electronic apparatus 100 by the number of externalelectronic apparatuses that may be connected to the electronic apparatus100 in terms of hardware.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example operation in thecase of inputting a preset user command using a remote control apparatus200. The remote control apparatus 200 may include general buttons andspecial buttons. The general buttons are buttons for controlling thesource apparatus, and the special buttons are button for controlling apreset apparatus.

The general buttons may be used after the remote control apparatusreceives the information on the source apparatus and maps a control codeset to the plurality of buttons, and generate different control commandsdepending on a kind of the control code set.

The special buttons are buttons that are irrelevant to the control codeset corresponding to the source apparatus. For example, even though thecontrol code set mapped to the plurality of buttons is changed due to achange of the source apparatus from the DVD apparatus to the set-topbox, a new control code set is not mapped to the special buttons.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the display apparatus 10 may receive acontent from any one source apparatus and display the received content.For example, when a general button 510 of the remote control apparatus200 is manipulated, the remote control apparatus 200 transmits a controlcommand corresponding to the source apparatus. For example, although aplurality of apparatuses may receive the control command, only thesource apparatus may be operated depending on the control command.

When the control command of the remote control apparatus 200 istransmitted to the source apparatus, a channel may be changed fromChannel No. 7 to Channel No. 8, as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 5A.However, this is only an example, and different operations may also beperformed depending on general buttons manipulated in the sourceapparatus and the remote control apparatuses 200.

For example, in the example of using the general button 510, differentoperations may be performed depending on a kind of the source apparatusand a kind of the general button 510.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, when a first special button 520 ismanipulated, a function provided by a preset apparatus may be displayed.For example, the preset apparatus may be the electronic apparatus 100,and the electronic apparatus 100 may control the display apparatus 10 todisplay a screen for determining a content that will be displayed on thedisplay apparatus 10 depending on an input of the first special button520. Therefore, the display apparatus 10 may display a screen fordetermining a content that will be displayed by focusing on a connectingmethod of the source apparatus providing the content, before the firstspecial button 520 is manipulated.

In addition, when the first special button 520 is manipulated, theremote control apparatus 200 may map a control code set corresponding tothe preset apparatus to the plurality of buttons. The control code setcorresponding to the preset apparatus may be stored in the storage 220.When the first special button 520 is manipulated, the remote controlapparatus 200 may also transmit a signal requesting the electronicapparatus 100 to transmit the control code set corresponding to thepreset apparatus to the electronic apparatus 100. Therefore, after thefirst special button 520 is manipulated, the source apparatus is notcontrolled, and only the preset apparatus may be controlled.

When a second special button 530 is operated in this state, the displayapparatus 10 may return, for example, to a state before the functionprovided by the preset apparatus is displayed. For example, the presetapparatus may be the electronic apparatus 100, and the electronicapparatus 100 may control the display apparatus 10 to display a contentthat was displayed before the first special button 520 is input,depending on an input of the second special button 530.

In addition, when the second special button 530 is manipulated, theremote control apparatus 200 may map a control code set corresponding tothe source apparatus before the control code set corresponding to thepreset apparatus is mapped to the plurality of buttons. The control codeset corresponding to the source apparatus before the first specialbutton 520 is manipulated may be stored in the storage 220. When thesecond special button 530 is manipulated, the remote control apparatus200 may transmit a signal requesting the electronic apparatus 100 totransmit the control code set corresponding to the source apparatusbefore the first special button 520 is manipulated to the electronicapparatus 100.

Although an example in which the first special button 520 and the secondspecial button 530 are separate buttons has been illustrated in FIGS. 5Aand 5B, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, thefirst special button 520 and the second special button 530 may also bethe same button.

The remote control apparatus 200 may also not separately include thespecial button. For example, in the case in which a plurality of generalbuttons of the remote control apparatus 200 are simultaneouslymanipulated, the same operation as that of the special button describedabove may also be configured to be performed.

Although an example in which the electronic apparatus 100 is the presetapparatus has been described in FIG. 5B, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the preset apparatus may also be thedisplay apparatus 10 or the external electronic apparatus 20-1. Thepreset apparatus may be set by the user.

In addition, although an example in which a display screen is changeddepending on the manipulation of the special button has been describedin FIG. 5B, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example,in the example in which the special button is manipulated, only thecontrol code set corresponding to the preset source apparatus may bemapped to the plurality of buttons, and the display screen my not bechanged.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a case in whichthe number of contents that are currently displayed is plural.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the electronic system may include a pluralityof display apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2. For example, the plurality ofdisplay apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2 may receive contents from differentsource apparatuses, respectively, to display different images.

The electronic apparatus 100 may provide information on a sourceapparatus providing a content to a display apparatus, having a higherpriority, of the plurality of display apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2, to theremote control apparatus 200.

Priorities may be preset by the user. The priorities may also bedetermined depending on times in which the display apparatuses areturned on. The priorities may also be determined on the basis ofdistances between the display apparatuses and the remote controlapparatus 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, a display apparatus 10 may also receivecontents from a plurality of source apparatuses to display a pluralityof contents.

In this example, the electronic apparatus 100 may provide information ona source apparatus, having a higher priority, of a plurality of sourceapparatuses, to the remote control apparatus 200.

Priorities may be preset by the user. Alternatively, the priorities mayalso be determined depending on times in which the source apparatusesprovide the contents to the display apparatus 10.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example determining method of asource apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

First, the electronic apparatus 100 decides whether or not the displayapparatus displays a content (S710). For example, the electronicapparatus 100 may transmit a signal inquiring whether or not the contentis displayed to the display apparatus. In the example in which theelectronic apparatus 100 directly provides the content to the displayapparatus, the electronic apparatus 100 may directly decide whether ornot the content is displayed.

In the example in which the display apparatus does not display thecontent, the electronic apparatus 100 may determine that the electronicapparatus 100 is the source apparatus (S720). In this example, theremote control apparatus 200 controls the electronic apparatus 100.

In the example in which the display apparatus displays the content, theelectronic apparatus 100 may decide whether or not the displayed contentis provided from another apparatus (S730). For example, the electronicapparatus 100 may transmit a signal inquiring by which apparatus thecontent is provided to the display apparatus. Alternatively, in the casein which the electronic apparatus 100 directly provides the content tothe display apparatus, the electronic apparatus 100 may not transmit aninquiry signal.

In the example in which the displayed content is not provided fromanother apparatus, the electronic apparatus 100 may determine that thedisplay apparatus is the source apparatus (S740). For example, theelectronic apparatus 100 may decide that the display apparatus directlyreceives the content from a broadcasting base station, or the like, anddisplays the received content. In this example, the remote controlapparatus 200 controls the display apparatus.

In the example in which the displayed content is provided from anotherapparatus, the electronic apparatus 100 may determine that the apparatusproviding the content is the source apparatus (S750).

When the source apparatus is determined, the electronic apparatus 100may transmit information on the source apparatus to the remote controlapparatus 200 (S760). The information on the source apparatus mayinclude a control code set corresponding to the source apparatus as wellas a manufacturer, a product name, and a serial number of the sourceapparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of a remotecontrol apparatus 200 according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

First, the remote control apparatus 200 may receive information on thesource apparatus from the electronic apparatus 100 (S810). Theinformation on the source apparatus may include a control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus as well as a manufacturer, aproduct name, and a serial number of the source apparatus.

Then, the remote control apparatus 200 may map a control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus to a plurality of buttons (S820).The control code set corresponding to the source apparatus may bereceived from the electronic apparatus 100 or be stored in the storage220 of the remote control apparatus 200.

In the example in which the control code set is mapped to the pluralityof buttons, the control code set may not be mapped to special buttons.As described above, the special buttons, which are buttons speciallyprovided in order to control a preset apparatus, are buttons for alwayscontrolling only the preset apparatus regardless of an apparatuscurrently controlled by the remote control apparatus 200.

Then, the remote control apparatus 200 may receive a button input(S830). The button input may be a button input for controlling thesource apparatus. The button input may be a button input for controllingthe preset apparatus using the special buttons.

The remote control apparatus 200 may generate a control commandcorresponding to the button input based on the control code set (S840),and transmit the generated control command (S850). For example, in thecase in which the button input is the button input for controlling thesource apparatus, the control code set may be a control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus. In the example in which thebutton input is the button input for controlling the preset apparatus,the control code set may be a control code set corresponding to thepreset apparatus.

The control code set corresponding to the preset apparatus may be mappedto the plurality of buttons including the special buttons.

FIG. 9A is a sequence diagram illustrating example operations of anelectronic system according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

First, the electronic apparatus 100 determines the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus (S910). For example, the electronic apparatus 100 storescontrol code sets corresponding to each of the display apparatus and theone or more external electronic apparatuses providing the content to thedisplay apparatus therein.

The electronic apparatus 100 may determine the source apparatus byreceiving information on the source apparatus from the displayapparatus. In the example in which the electronic apparatus 100 providesone content to the display apparatus, the electronic apparatus 100 mayalso directly determine the information on the source apparatus.

The electronic apparatus 100 transmits the control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus to the remote control apparatus200 (S920). The control code set may be stored in the electronicapparatus 100 or be received from the external server.

The remote control apparatus 200 includes the plurality of buttons, andwhen the remote control apparatus 200 receives the control code set fromthe electronic apparatus 100, the remote control apparatus 200 mayautomatically map the received control code set to the plurality ofbuttons (S930). The remote control apparatus 200 may control the sourceapparatus using the plurality buttons to which the control code set ismapped.

FIG. 9B is a sequence diagram illustrating example operations of anelectronic system according to another example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

An example in which the electronic apparatus 100 stores the control codesets therein and transmits the control code set corresponding to thesource apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200 has been describedin FIG. 9A. FIG. 9B is a diagram for describing operations in theexample in which the remote control apparatus 200 stores a plurality ofcontrol code sets therein.

First, the electronic apparatus 100 determines the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus (S940). The electronic apparatus 100 may determine the sourceapparatus by receiving information on the source apparatus from thedisplay apparatus or may directly determine the source apparatus.

The electronic apparatus 100 transmits the information on the sourceapparatus to the remote control apparatus 200 (S950). For example, theinformation on the source apparatus may not include the control codeset.

When the information on the source apparatus providing the content thatis currently displayed on the display apparatus is received from theelectronic apparatus 100, the remote control apparatus 200 mayautomatically detect the control code set corresponding to the sourceapparatus (S960). For example, the control code set may be stored in theelectronic apparatus 100 or be received from an external server.

Then, the remote control apparatus 200 may map the detected control codeset to the plurality of buttons to control the source apparatus (S970).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example control method of anelectronic apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

First, the source apparatus, providing the content that is currentlydisplayed on the display apparatus, of the display apparatus and the oneor more external electronic apparatuses, is determined (S1010). Then,the control code set corresponding to the determined source apparatus istransmitted to the remote control apparatus (S1020).

For example, in S1010, the information on the apparatus providing thecontent that is currently displayed on the display apparatus may bereceived from the display apparatus, and the source apparatus may bedetermined on the basis of the received information.

S1010 may include transmitting a content provided from any one of theone or more external electronic apparatuses to the display apparatus;and determining that the external electronic apparatus providing thecontent is the source apparatus.

In S1020, when the source apparatus providing the content that iscurrently displayed on the display apparatus is changed, a control codeset corresponding to the changed source apparatus may be transmitted tothe remote control apparatus 200.

The method of controlling an electronic apparatus may further includereceiving the control code set corresponding to the determined sourceapparatus from the external server and storing the received control codeset in the storage, when the source apparatus is determined.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example control method of aremote control apparatus according to an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

First, information on the source apparatus providing the content that iscurrently displayed on the display apparatus is received from the mainapparatus, communicating with the display apparatus, of the one or moreexternal electronic apparatuses (S1110). Then, the control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus is automatically detected (S1120).Then, the detected control code set is mapped to the plurality ofbuttons (S1130).

In addition, the control method of a remote control apparatus furtherincludes transmitting a signal requesting the main apparatus to transmitthe control code set corresponding to the source apparatus in the casein which the control code set corresponding to the source apparatus isnot stored in the storage, and in S1130, the control code set receivedfrom the main apparatus may be mapped to the plurality of buttons.

In addition, the control method of a remote control apparatus mayfurther include receiving a pressing manipulation input of the firstbutton and mapping the control code set corresponding to the mainapparatus to the plurality of buttons.

In addition, the control method of a remote control apparatus mayfurther include receiving a pressing manipulation input of the secondbutton after the first button is pressing-manipulated and returning to abutton mapping state immediately before the first button ispressing-manipulated.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the presentdisclosure.

Although a case in which the electronic apparatus is a separateapparatus has been described hereinabove, FIG. 12 illustrates that thedisplay apparatus 10 and the electronic apparatus may be implementedintegrally with each other.

For example, the electronic apparatus may be one component in thedisplay apparatus 10. In this example, the display apparatus 10 mayperform communication with the one or more external electronicapparatuses 20-1 and 20-2 and the remote control apparatus 200.

The display apparatus 10 may directly determine the source apparatusproviding the content that is currently displayed, and transmit theinformation on the source apparatus to the remote control apparatus 200.For example, the display apparatus 10 may also transmit the control codeset corresponding to the source apparatus to the remote controlapparatus 200.

The remote control apparatus 200 may map the control code setcorresponding to the source apparatus to the plurality of buttons, andcontrol the source apparatus.

According to the various example embodiments of the present disclosureas described above, an apparatus to be controlled of the plurality ofapparatuses may be automatically determined by the electronic apparatus,and the determined apparatus may be controlled by the remote controlapparatus.

The method of controlling an electronic apparatus according to thevarious example embodiments of the present disclosure described abovemay be implemented by program codes that may be executed in a computerand be provided in the respective servers or apparatuses so as to beexecuted by a processor in a state in which it is stored in variousnon-transitory computer-readable media.

As an example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which aprogram may sequentially perform determining the source apparatus,providing the content that is currently displayed on the displayapparatus, of the display apparatus and the one or more externalelectronic apparatuses and transmitting the control code setcorresponding to the determined source apparatus to the remote controlapparatus is stored may be provided.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium may refer, for example, to amedium that semi-permanently stores data therein and is readable by adevice. For example, various applications or programs described abovemay be stored and provided in the non-transitory computer-readablemedium such as a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), ahard disk, a Blu-ray disk, a universal serial bus (USB), a memory card,a read only memory (ROM), or the like.

Although the example embodiments of the present disclosure have beenillustrated and described hereinabove, the present disclosure is notlimited to any particular example embodiment described above, but may bevariously modified by those skilled in the art to which the presentdisclosure pertains without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure as claimed in the claims. These modifications should also beunderstood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a display; atuner; a communicator; and a processor configured to: identify whetherthe tuner or an external apparatus is providing a content that iscurrently being displayed on the display; while the content is beingdisplayed on the display, receive a first control signal from a remotecontrol apparatus through the communicator; in response to receiving thefirst control signal and based on identifying that the tuner isproviding the content currently being displayed, perform an operation ofthe display apparatus according to the first control signal; in responseto receiving the first control signal and based on identifying that anexternal apparatus is providing the content currently being displayed,control the communicator to transmit information associated with theexternal apparatus to the remote control apparatus, which when receivedby the remote control apparatus using a first communication method,causes the remote control apparatus to transmit a second control signalfor controlling an operation of the external apparatus, corresponding tothe information, to the external apparatus using a second communicationmethod, wherein the second communication method of the remote controlapparatus is different from the first communication method of the remotecontrol apparatus.
 2. The display apparatus claimed in claim 1, whereinthe information associated with the external apparatus comprises acontrol code corresponding to the first control signal.
 3. The displayapparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the information associated withthe external apparatus comprises at least one of a product name, aserial number, and a manufacturer.
 4. The display apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to, based on a source ofa content that is currently being displayed on the display being changedfrom the external apparatus to another external apparatus, transmitinformation associated with the other external apparatus to the remotecontrol apparatus.
 5. The display apparatus claimed in claim 1, whereinthe display apparatus further comprises a storage configured to storeone or more control code sets corresponding to the external apparatus.6. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the processor isconfigured to, based on a control code set corresponding to theidentified external apparatus not being stored in the storage, transmita request for the control code set corresponding to the identifiedexternal apparatus to an external server, and receive the control codeset from the external server.
 7. The display apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first communication method is based on at least oneof Bluetooth, Wifi, or WLAN, and wherein the second communication methodis based on Infra-Red(IR).
 8. A method of controlling a displayapparatus comprising: identifying whether the tuner or an externalapparatus is providing a content that is currently being displayed onthe display; while the content is being displayed on the display,receiving a first control signal from a remote control apparatus throughthe communicator; in response to receiving the first control signal andbased on identifying that the tuner is providing the content currentlybeing displayed, performing an operation of the display apparatusaccording to the first control signal; in response to receiving thefirst control signal and based on identifying that an external apparatusis providing the content currently being displayed, transmittinginformation associated with the external apparatus to the remote controlapparatus, which when received by the remote control apparatus using afirst communication method, causes the remote control apparatus totransmit a second control signal for controlling an operation of theexternal apparatus, corresponding to the information, to the externalapparatus using a second communication method, wherein the secondcommunication method of the remote control apparatus is different fromthe first communication method of the remote control apparatus.
 9. Themethod as claimed in claim 8, wherein the information associated withthe external apparatus comprises a control code corresponding to thefirst control signal.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein theinformation associated with the external apparatus comprises at leastone of a product name, a serial number, and a manufacturer.
 11. Themethod as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: based on a source of acontent that is currently being displayed on the display being changedfrom the external apparatus to another external apparatus, transmittinginformation associated with the other external apparatus to the remotecontrol apparatus.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 8, furthercomprising: based on a control code set corresponding to the identifiedexternal apparatus not being stored in a storage, transmitting a requestfor the control code set corresponding to the identified externalapparatus to an external server, and receive the control code set fromthe external server.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein thefirst communication method is based on at least one of Bluetooth, Wifi,or WLAN, and wherein the second communication method is based onInfra-Red(IR).
 14. A display system comprising: a remote controlapparatus; and a display apparatus comprising: a display; a tuner; acommunicator; and a processor configured to: identify whether the tuneror an external apparatus is providing a content that is currently beingdisplayed on the display; while the content is being displayed on thedisplay, receive a first control signal from the remote controlapparatus through the communicator; in response to receiving the firstcontrol signal and based on identifying that the tuner is providing thecontent currently being displayed, perform an operation of the displayapparatus according to the first control signal; in response toreceiving the first control signal and based on identifying that anexternal apparatus is providing the content currently being displayed,control the communicator to transmit information associated with theexternal apparatus to the remote control apparatus, wherein the remotecontrol apparatus is configured to, in response to receiving theinformation associated with the external apparatus using a firstcommunication method, transmit a second control signal for controllingan operation of the external apparatus, corresponding to theinformation, to the external apparatus using a second communicationmethod, wherein the second communication method of the remote controlapparatus is different from the first communication method of the remotecontrol apparatus.
 15. The display system claimed in claim 14, whereinthe information associated with the external apparatus comprises acontrol code corresponding to the first control signal.
 16. The displaysystem claimed in claim 14, wherein the information associated with theexternal apparatus comprises at least one of a product name, a serialnumber, and a manufacturer.
 17. The display system as claimed in claim14, wherein the display apparatus is configured to, based on a source ofa content that is currently being displayed on the display apparatusbeing changed from the external apparatus to another external apparatus,transmit information associated with the other external apparatus to theremote control apparatus.
 18. The display system claimed in claim 14,wherein the display apparatus further comprises a storage configured tostore one or more control code sets corresponding to the externalapparatus.
 19. The display system as claimed in claim 14, wherein theremote control apparatus further comprises a storage configured to storeone or more control code sets corresponding to the external apparatus.20. The display system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the firstcommunication method is based on at least one of Bluetooth, Wifi, orWLAN, and wherein the second communication method is based onInfra-Red(IR).